Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-08-19
PHILOSOPHY OF SLANG.


"Ihe every Jay luloins Vi tiie idh
guage commonly called slang are not
SO worthy Of unqualified condemnation
as many prudish people suppose" OBJ
served professor of belles-lettres to
porter the other day
'sThey have direct figurative signif-
canoe and give scope to an inventive
fancy. For example, the expression
You make me tired indicates to a
shade the feeling Of lassitude inflicted
by bore. Again, the phrase What
are you giving usp' is merely a figura-
tive way Of expressing incredulity.
Many sanguinary conflicts have doubt
less been averted by its use, as the rug
ged, synonymous phrase, You arc
lying sir, sir!' has been known to give
offense to certain eccentric persons.
Many slang phrases are the embodi-
ment Of polite spirit When you are
out with the boys and exhibit in
meteoric flashes the slumbering hilarity
in your nature, to be told that You are
intoxicated strikes sensitive chord in
your breast; but to be accosted with
What an elegant load You have got
brings smile Of assent and satisfaction
TO your countenance every time. Gentlc-
men never acknowledge to being DRUNK.
It is still or jag they have on.
The word drunk applies only to tramps.
They are synonymous terms. Every
acute intellect will recognize this sub
tic shade Of meaning Gentlemen OF
pugilistic proclivitics are very careful
in their language. They appreciate the
notifying effects Of slang idioms and
are particular to employ them in speak
ing OF their encounters. Who ever
heard champion Of tho ring say that
he gave his antagonist black eye or
bloody nosep He prefers, in spirit Of
chivalry. more elegant terms, and will
say that he closed a pepper or tapped
the claret. II he knocks his opponent
down he will say CONSIDERABLY that he
sent him to grass. If he gains victory
he will not injure the feelings OF the
vanquished party by Boosting that he
thrashcd him, but will pour balm upon
his wounds by stating politely that he
done him up
.The parallel between slang phrases
and rugged English" continued the
professor. "may be drawn still farther.
No man is so devoid of fine feeling as to
acknowledge that he has pawned an
article. 1t is less shocking to hint with
wink that his uncle has it, or that it
is in hook, or even that he has hang
1t up The expressions exhibit the
deed from humorous point of view.
In all walks of life we find this same
endeavor Mt poiteness. A thief is called
fly man or crook, bribe-takcr
Is called 'boodler,' and swindlera are
called .bunco steerers' and saw dust
men, This is as 1t should be. The
English language, devoid Of its figura-
tive idioms, is simply brutal. This ac-
counts fer the birth Of the word dude.
tits farmore elegant than its synonym,
fool. The ruthless small boy might
hesitate at the latter. but the former he
can shout out at the top of his lungs
whenever some trine Of humanity may
be blown across his path. A slang
term that has peculiar significance is
"A chippy chaser. This is applied to
the prosecutors Of honorable working
girls. They stand upon the street cor
ners until some pretty girls pass by,
| and then follow them block after block
talking in loud voice and otherwise
annoying them. 1t is gratifying To
know that they are generally left.
This last expression is applicable To
those who fail to attain the objects Of
their desires. The 'chippy chaser II
successful in making the clandestine
acquaintance he seeks, and in making
an appointment for some future even.
ing, is, as rule, stood up This
means, in unvarnished English, that he
| stands for hour after hour Mt the APP
| pointed place awaiting the arrival Of
the expected female, probably in VIC
| lont rain or snow-storm, for a 'chippy
chaser never gives up hope. while the
honest girl is possibly sleeping in hel
| bed.
/ AhotV 0fsuih hAp PNhoNhNcS WA Si"h 4
idioms Is demonstrated. The synonym
of 'chippy chaser is the pitiable wore
idiot which is rather an unpleasant
sounding term to be applied to young
man. The inventor of this idiom merits
the hearty thanks of the brotherhood
1T Is obvious" remarked the pro
fessor in conclusion, from the fore
| going exposition that our slang origi
mates from the innate delicacy of feel
ing, which is characteristic of Ameri
cans from the small boy up. Tit
English language, when plainly spoken
is harsh and jarring and contains man,
unpleasant words. Men of fine feeling
naturally express themselves in /
igurative or. to be less scholarly,
Pickwiekian sense. IN Y. Mail ant
Express